BRACKLEY BEACH, P.E.I. — Mikey Perry was seven years old when he joined judo.
He trained under the late John Wilbert and since then, Mikey has won tournaments locally and abroad.
Now, the 15-year-old Brackley Beach resident has a black belt in judo, referees younger judoka and acts as an assistant coach at his dojo.
Mikey dreams of representing Canada at the Olympics.
“When I first started, I didn’t know whether I was going to like it or not,” he said.
“It is an energetic sport and I have lots of energy and I get to travel with the sport, which I really enjoy, seeing different places.”
He also wants to further his coaching and help the younger kids reach their goals. He already sees potential in some of the younger athletes he works with.
Some of Mikey's accomplishments include becoming a part of P.E.I.’s judo team when he was 12 and travelling to Montreal for a chance to compete internationally. In a pool of 23 competitors, Mikey won a bronze medal and spent a week at the National Training Centre with Olympic athletes and coaches.
Mikey attended nationals in Calgary where he was one of the youngest athletes and won a gold medal in the under-16 division.
The following year he was selected to compete at the Elite 8, an invitation-only tournament that brings together the best judoka from across Canada. Mikey came home with bronze despite competing against athletes two and three years older than himself.
Mikey represented P.E.I. at the 2019 Canada Games in Red Deer, Alta., and won the province's first medal of the Games when he beat his opponent in the bronze-medal match.
Mikey said he owes his love of the sport to Wilbert, who was a pillar in the Island's judo community.
Wilbert decided to take the youngster under his wing as Mikey continued his winning ways. In October 2016, Mikey was devastated by the death of his coach and mentor.
“He was grouchy sometimes, but I think that is what a lot of people really need. . . You can’t have a coach be soft and let you get away with things,” Mikey said.
“I think that is what helped improved my judo. I was sad when he passed away. He was a good person.”
Mikey is determined to honour Wilbert’s memory by living out his dream of competing in the Olympics, taking up Wilbert’s never-say-never attitude in his competition. He now trains with Toshidokan Judo Club in Summerside, under the tutelage of coach Chris Townsend.
Mikey is heading to Montreal today to compete in the Elite 8 tournament, which has attracted the top-eight competitors from across Canada in each age and weight division.
“I am excited to go. I am planning to do my best and make myself and P.E.I. proud.”
Related link
• CANADA GAMES: Perry wins bronze in judo for Team P.E.I.
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